TEXT OF INTERVIEW

KAI RYSSDAL: Weather like that is not going to do beach retailers any good. Summer is when vendors that work on the sand earn their take for the whole year — selling trinkets and T-shirts, key chains and any other engraved thing you may want. We called Perry Pillas to see what the beach business is like during a recession. He owns a beachfront store in Ocean City, Md. Mr. Pillas, good to have you with us.

Perry Pillas: Pleasure to be here.

Ryssdal: Do me a favor and give me a quick description of what it is that you sell.

Pillas: Sweatshirts, sunglasses, beach hats for men and ladies, footwear, suntan lotion, beach bags, kids’ T-shirts and hats, fan toys, just a general variety beach store.

Ryssdal: How has business been so far? You’ve been open, what six weeks, a couple of months?

Pillas: Yeah. It’s been a little bit soft for this year.

Ryssdal: How soft? Are you seeing people actually coming in and buy stuff?

Pillas: I would say a 15 to 20 percent shortfall from last year. It seems like here, junk food seems to be doing pretty good, but clothing is marginal.

Ryssdal: So you’re selling a lot of Twinkies then.

Pillas: Yeah.

Ryssdal: Up and down the boardwalk there, what are your neighbors and other retailers in the neighborhood, what are they saying to you?

Pillas: What we’re finding is the junk food are doing good and the retail soft people are doing not as good and then the little higher ticket items, like old-time photos that might run people $40, $50, $60 a pop or more, they’re even off more. So the higher the ticket, softer it is.

Ryssdal: Are you expecting this to continue through the summer. I mean, we are in a recession and all.

Pillas: Yeah. I see no reason for it to change. From the customers that are coming into my establishment still come in, but just don’t have the extra money to spend.

Ryssdal: What would it take for you to say, “You know what, this isn’t really worth it and I’m not going to open up this summer”?

Pillas: Well, it’s never been that marginal at the beach. If you enjoy what you’re doing, like I do — I could’ve retired a number of years ago — but I enjoy the interaction, the activity and, until it doesn’t pay me to come up here and put the time and effort in, then that would be a different story.

Ryssdal: Perry Pillas owns a beachfront store called “OC Babies” in Ocean City, Md. Mr. Pillas thanks a lot for your time.

Pillas: Pleasure to be with you.